Impression tray



May 9, 1950 s. JEFFERu-:s 2,506,875

IMPRESSION TRAY Filed April 22, 1946 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 gmc/rm 3fm/Jefferies www May 9g 1950 s. l.. JEFFERIES 2,506,875

IMPRESSION TRAY Filed April 22, 194e 4 sheets-sheet 2 @WWB S. L. JEFFERIES IMPRESSION TRAY May 9, 1950 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed April 22, 1946 May 9, 1950 s. l.. JEFFERIES 2,506,875

IMPRESSION TRAY Filed April 22. 1946 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented May 9, 1950 UNITEDV STATES (.)FFICE IJMIRESSIOISAI` TRAY Samuel Lionel JefferiesJ Gaffney, Application April 22, 1946, SerialNo.A (Cl. 32--19.).

3 Claims. 1

The present invention relatesr to, improvements in.- dental impression trays and the like, andhas for its object to provide a simple, eiiicient and inexpensive device. v

Another object thereof. is to. provide various forms of` dental.` impression trays of such form, shape, and construction, and function as torender conventional devices of thisv kind used by the dental profession, by. dental mechanics, and others more eicient, useful, and serviceable.

Another object thereof is to providel a dental tray, one side ofwhich is adapted to be usedA as a tray to receive and hold in anchored relation impression making material for taking an impression of the upper javv, and the other side of which is adapted to beY usedfor recordingor, reg.` istering bites.

.A still further object thereofl is to provide novel form ci" impression trays Where due regard is paid not only to taking proper impressions from impression making materials that are caused to be iirmly anchored to the tray in removable relation before, during, and after impression taking is resorted to and after material hashardened in the tray, but which also bestows attention to the special exigencies of practice as Where either the upper or lower jaw of a persons mouth has all or some teeth missing and Whether or not proper biting records can be made accordingly.

Another object thereof is toy provide a dental impression tray serviceable to distribute over the tray and hold rmly anchored theretorthe Wax, plastic, or other impression making materials that are escd therein and thereon.

Another object thereof is to. provide a dental impression tray with means designed to spread over the effective area ofthe impression tray the impression making material in'a softy mouldable condition; and't'o fold against said material thus laid out looped links as a means ofl reinforcing said material before' it hardens and as e.. means of assisting in anchoring the same to the tray.

.el further object-thereof is'to provide in een- ,iunction with aydental impression tray various s ofadjuncts thereto presentinfly hollow d thin bodies, in, about, and around which mouldable impression making material. is placed at the same time that itis placed upen the tray prof-er so as to afford irregular shaped proiecting porticns to which may cling said"rnatei not only when'in a soft condition, but when ithas hardened.

A. nrincipal object of this invention is the use @1f ef the trays bath. 19t/.er and upper trays,

singularly wither@ an atteler handle fer use es bite trays, and with an anterior projecting handle attached for use mostly in impressiontakfing. rThis idea being only onel of the many combination features, and by substitution of any of the combination features, singularly or collectively, all of the traysmay'be used to' cover anytra'y problems ofV impression'and bite takingad'recerdi'ng which may be presented.

With the above andl other objects in view, my invention consists in theA combination, arrange' ment and details o'ffconstruction disclosed Yin the drawings ane speemcaeerr and then more partieularly pointed out in the appendedl claims.

In the dravi'fi'ngs,v wherein similar' reference characters designate similar parts thriighout the respective views,`

' 'Figure 1 is Ya top plan vievv of one form ofv my inventos' Figure 2 is a sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of'lligureV 1 Y Figi/irey 3 `is a; bottom plan viewY of` a bite recording Alsfwlv detathed from the trav,

Figure 4 is another form of my invention in top plan Fleurs 51s a Sslloeel elevation 0f. Figure i.

Figure 6 is astillfurther view 'of a ino/dined .form` el my invention, .Shown in heiem plan View Figure 'Y is a .Sectional View taken 0.11 line l-.l Q f 'llsure 6 Figure 8 is a cross sectional view taken on line Erf-@Of Figur@ 6',

Figure 9r is a fragmentary detail view of a fastener means? l Figure 10 is a still further modcallon of my inventief; 'inbettom plan,

llgure 1l, is a,v ,sectional View taken. on line H -H of Figure 1,0,

Figure 12 isr .a transverse sectional view of a modified fQrm of lower impression tray,

ligure 13. a' fragmentary perspective View Of a lapped link member carried by. the. trav, Figure le is, a fragmentary detalviewef Fisure 1,3,

Figure 15 isa sectional elevation of another form of my invention,

Figure 16 is a fragmentary detail view of a optliqlpin or rivet attachment tosecure a looped in place. and igure 17 is a cross section of a tray equipped with looped links for a purpose to be described. Referring to thedravvings which are merely i1- tive of my invention, the parts are. desc1 ged. In Figure l is shown an upper impresslee trav il! Shaped like a jaw 0f the human meuth, which is rounded at the back, has dvergent edges II and I2 and a rimmed concave front I4. The latter jaw slopes downwardly in the form of a lip. The opposite rear corners may be rounded as at I3. The rear portion is concave in cross section and sunken in with respect to the central portion I1. At I5 is a hump portion and a sheet metal bar handle I9 has its inner end as at 2| curving around part I5 of the tray being fastened here by means of the rivets or pins 22. Extending over the marginal surfaces of the tray are indented grooves I8. They are staggered as at I9a.

Designed to be removably attached to the center of the tray upon its outer side is an oval shaped hollow rimmed cup or retaining member preferably made out of sheet metal. 'Its bottom abuts the top of the tray. A set screw 21 passes through this member and its head 28 overlies the bottom of member 24.

This member has an endless rim 25, which makes it cup shaped for receiving and locking the impression material. The ends thereof may be raised as at 26. On the opposite or bottom side of the tray II), also at the center, is mounted another hollow rimmed member of irregular shape and formation as is shown in Figure 3. It has four corner scallops 30 separated by curved recesses. It has a hole 3 Ia for the reception of the screw 21. It is mounted in position so as to overlie the bottom face of the tray so that its flanged run faces downwards in a direction opposite to the direction in which the flanged wall of the other member 24 faces. A wing nut 3| threaded upon set screw 21 clamps members 24 and 30 on opposite sides of the same tray. The cup member shown in Figure 3 is designed to hold bite material so that the tray I0 may be used for both impressions and bites. In place of runnin-g a continuous run around member 30, 30 may consist of a series of individual hook-shaped groups separated by intervening recesses. Teats 33 may also be formed of a member 30 to prevent rotation of this member.

In Figures 4 and 5, another form of my invention is disclosed. The same shape of upper impression tray is illustrated. The handle I9, if used, has its inner end attached by fasteners 22 to the bottom of the tray. The usual marginal alternately arranged indented grooves I8 and I9 are employed. The construction of the impression material anchoring and bite registering bodies varies from what has previously been described. A U-shaped metal casting or piece has its opposing sides 49 and 4I placed contiguous to each other `with the bight portion i2 connecting them. Into the slit intervening between these sides @il and 4I the inner end of the tray is inserted and held snugly. Formed integrally upon the side 4i] of this structure is the cup-shaped body designated 4'! which has an irregular rimmed flange consisting of ridges 44, 45, 46 repeated on opposite sides thereof, ridge 44 being concavoconvex and the other rides being all straight edges.

tray.

The other side 4I of this structure has also formed as an integral adjunct thereof a cupshaped body 44 having an endless rim or flange.

The body 4'! is designed to hold or retain bite material on the lower side of the impression I make use of a set screw 21 whose head 28 abuts the floor of body 44. A wing nut 39 may then be screwed home upon this set screw 21 and bind against the underface of side 4I of the body e1. In this way both bodies are clamped to the tray.

It will be noted that the form of my invention in Figures 10 and 11 conforms to the general outline of parts disclosed in Figures 4 and 5. One diiference is to be found in the shape of the lip 43, which in Figure l0 is V-shaped. Another difference is in the handle I9. In Figures l0 and ll the handle I9 is seen to be formed with a downturned horseshoe shaped tongue 69, the front face 19a of which is arcuate in shape. This tongue projects below the bottom of the bite registering ridge 44. Otherwise, these figures are all identical.

Figures 15 and 16 illustrate, as do Figures 13 and 14, the use of looped links movably connected at certain points of the impression tray, one method of attachment being shown in Figures 14 and 13, and another form in Figures 15 and 16. The top link has the opposing long arms 54 and 55, a cross arm 51 at one end, and two oppositely arranged cross terminals 54a disposed parallel to arm 51. A keeper 19, in one form of attachment, is bent and rolled back as an integral adjunct of the floor of the tray of Figure 13, being stamped out from slot 54h therein. This tray is formed with longitudinally depressed grooves one of which is shown marginally of the tray in Figure 13, consisting of the track A, and side shoulders B and C. In this track the keeper 'I9 extends so that by springing in the resilient terminals 54a of the looped link into opposite ends of this keeper, this loop link is pivotally mounted in this track A so when folded down as shown in Figure 13 therein, it is ush with shoulders B and C.

The other method of attaching the loop link shown in Figures 15 and 16 varies from what already been described only in this; that the keeper 53 is the bight portion of a sheet metal strap bent so that it has'opposing sides 52 and 52a overlapping each other and the bight portion extended laterally of side 52a. Headed pins are used to fasten these parts to the floor 29 of the impression tray. One head of the pin engages the tray, and the other head 5I of the pin overlies the side 52 of the clip. Before closing the big-ht portion of this clip the cross arms 54a of the looped link will be mounted therein.

Another form of my invention is disclosed in Figures 6 and 7. This is one of the most serviceable forms thereof. The impression tray is of the usual jaw-resembling formation and shape. However, its floor 58 is formed transversely and centrally thereof with an indented downwardly bulging portion 6I spaced under the lower face of the floor 58 of the tray. The offset portion 6I provides a means for rmly locking the impression material in the tray. A handle member I9 includes as an adjunct thereof integral means for anchoring the plastic material which is to be placed upon the under side of the tray to register or record the bite of the patient undergoing dental treatment. This is a specially shaped member that has been designed to do away with the necessity of using a special small anged or cupshaped body at the center of the under side of the tray for this purpose, such as has been previously set forth therein.

The handle member is formed of sheet metal. It is shaped to provide the flat handle proper, which is offset at 64 where a straight portion 62 extends beyond the handle portion I9 and is secured by fastener 62a to theadjacent part of the tray floor 58. A horseshoe shaped integral por- Another condition that my invention rigidly meets is enabling the impresison taking material to remain on the tray and be held by the properly shaped anchoring member against displacement or sepa-ration from the tray in any occasion Where strain, jolts, or vibrations is imposed upon the tray in trimming the edges down to meet the requirement of any special case, or to confine the overhanging portions of the plastic material in place upon the tray and cause same to maintain a desired shape. Should such strain, jolts or vibrations, from any source be imposed or transferred from tray to the particular form of anchoring member used, then it is necessary to assure that the impression taking material will not work loose, fail to cling onto the grooves I8, I9a and projections aioi'ded by the anchoring hollow rimmed body, or otherwise become separated or detached or adhere loosely upon the tray, rendering same unt for taking imprezaions of jaws and appendages, etc.

The special shapes imparted to some of the hollow rimmed anchoring members have just this effect, with particular regard to varying work or types of work done by dentists, they furnish exactly the proper means best suited for this kind of work, and calculated to rrnly unite the workable, pliable impression material while soft or hot or both to the tray by means of said anchoring member in such a manner that when the mass hardens it will stay intact on the tray, and permit the dentist to shape both the mass and the tray as desired by employing tools or not for this purpose. While the mass, thus hardened, and the indentations already made, due to the patient having closed his jaws or jaw upon it at direction of the dentist, remain intact upon the tray, due to the moldable material clinging to all parts of the projections of the anchoring member on the central part of the tray, it may be required to make the model. It will be found that the anchorage of the hardened material from which such model is to be made is strong enough to allow this.

Figure 2 shows a bite registering anchoring member which especially is useful in providing a cluster of curved prongs in case it is desired to rmly unite the soft material therearound with adequate under and lateral support. In Figure 10 either anchoring member on either side of the tray has as a characteristic the capability of receiving, spreading, and holding for centering purposes the moldable material which is then spread out in all directions away from the center of the tray to its marginal anterior and posterior portions; in all such forms the edges of the hollow anchoring bodies act as material penetrating portions assuring non-separation of the mass from the tray after the same has set.

The form of device shown in Figure 12 has the property and characteristics of allowing a common mass of moldable composition material while soft and hot to be poured into the central hollow formation that projects both on top and below the tray or its equivalent member, and then be worked around the exterior parts of both the member 'i6 and member 13 for impression making purposes and for bite registering purposes as well. The dentist will find proper occasions for preferring this form in use. The handle yis valuable in steadying the device when in actual use for any of the purposes herein set forth. Its removal faciiltates rather than helps the dentist in certain cases.

'I'he form shown in Figure 6 is also for special occasional use. `It is concerned chiefly for bite recording. In exacting cases of recording or registering bites, well known to those skilled in the art, or certain practitioners, the other forms are not of advantageous use. But here is shown the possibility of improving upon the holding quality and property in an anchoring member for recording bites. It will be readily seen that the special usefulness of this form of device resides in particular way in which the angular, parallel, and curved parts of projecting portions contribute to afford clinging surfaces for the moldable mass to be worked thereabout so as to conceal and continue the thickness of the impression making material outward from the floor of the tray. The workable material is free not only to cling on the annular projectings bodily, but will enter the space between downwardly bulging portion 60h and come out at the upper face of the floor of the tray where it is purposely spread out in all directions so as to overlie the tray. In this instance only the bite registering material anchoring member is used. Such an anchoring arrangement assures a most positive holding-on process of attaching the material removably upon the tray.

Finally another expedient I have provided for special occasions also known to those skilled in the art to which my invention relates, is that made possible by the use of movably mounted anchoring means. Such forms are disclosed particularly in Figures 17, 13 and 15. The merit of this resides in the fact that the looped links, in one position, hang down loosely upon the tray, so as to be out of the way of the dental technician applying the soft material in a molten condition or otherwise upon the tray, and especially of wiping parts thereof upon the marginal sides or wings of the tray, after which process he folds the loop links back so as to imbed them overlappingly into the soft material, so when same hardens these links will form anchoring parts to which the material intimately clings because some material will project through the slot of the link and others hold on to the arms thereof. The fact that grooved portions or tracks i8 or A are formed preferably marginally of the tray into which a portion of the soft material extends, while beiner penetrated by the looped links, is an assurance that other portions of the soft mass still being worked upon the tray may be extended over the sides or wings of the tray before the looped links are closed compressingly against and into the portions extending into said tracks. In this way, with particular attention stressed upon the mar- -ginal portions of the impression making material as well as on other parts of the tray, an ultimate eifect is produced of an impressionable material that stays rmly anchored upon the tray along margins as well as upon the center.

On all the trays of this application, both upper and lower, at all places where channels and grooves appear, said channels and grooves may be alternated with or displaced by round perforations or holes, the location of these holes to be in pairs placed at above strategic points and of such 'size to permit impression and bite material to enter and to better tie and secure the material to the bite and impression trays, each pair of perforations to be made and used in the trays optionally; at some places channels or grooves will be used, and at other places holes will be used, 0r all grooves may be used on some trays and all holes may be used on other trays.

It is further understood that the various atasoas'zs tachments applied to the upper tray may be used with the lower trays, and the attachments of the lower trays may be used with the upper trays.

What I desire to claim is:

1. A dental impression tray having one end sunk with relation to the other and of a concavecross section, a pair of flanged thin members engaging opposite sides of said tray at the higher rear end of said tray with their flanges facing respectively up and down on opposite sides of the tray, a connecting member integral with said members and straddling said rear end of the tray, and means holding said members against undue displacement from said tray.

2. A dental impression tray having a concave cross section at one end, and flat at the opposite or rear end, a pair of cup shaped members on opposite sides of said tray at said rear end, an irregular marginal edge on said members, a marginal ange about the edges of said cup shaped members, a connecting member between said cup shaped members overlying the at end of said body and means removably securing said cup shaped members on said impression tray.

3. A dental impression tray comprising a body having a iat bottom, an upturned ange on the sides and front of said bottom leaving an open rear edge, a pair of opposed cup shaped members REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 508,677 Burlinghame Nov. 14, 1893 681,535 Fowlring Aug. 27, 1901 1,374,133 Bridges Apr. 12, 1921 2,352,545 Jeieries June 27, 1944 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 423,534 Great Britain Feb. 4, 1935 

